other states already have similar laws. in all more than 29,000 laws were passed by state legislatures in 2012 and many of those are kicking in today. of course it's been a very busy year at the federal level as well and many new regulations stemming from laws passed over the last couple of years will phase in today including, an hhs mandate that employers who provide health insurance coverage must make sure it includes free access to a number of birth control methods, some of them controversial. there is an exemption for those defined as religious employers but there are more than 40 cases pending by employers saving that's what they are and the obama administration is refusing to recognize that. hobby lobby is believed to be the largest employer challenging the mandate. just days ago it was denied a emergency injunction having to comply by supreme court justice sonia sotomayor. founder and ceo david green said quote we simply can not abandon our religious beliefs to comply with this mandate. mining the company is potentia